Through integrated research and extension programs, NC state is solving challenges related to the productivity and profitability of both large- and small-scale farms

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded North Carolina State University $2.366 million under the Cooperative Forestry Research program (CFDA 10.202) on October 1, 2025, for integrated research and extension programs addressing agricultural productivity, animal systems, food safety, nutrition, and natural resource management.

NC State will conduct research and extension activities focused on farm productivity and profitability for large- and small-scale operations, landscaping and gardening knowledge dissemination, animal breeding, reproduction, nutrition, genetics and genomics, physiology, environmental stress, product quality, and animal health and well-being. The award also supports research and extension efforts on soil, water, and air quality through scientific solutions for animal waste management, wastewater treatment, nutrient management, septic systems, wetland management, soil properties, and fishery and pond management. NC State will develop and disseminate food safety knowledge and methods protecting the supply chain from production to consumption, develop new food products promoting health and disease prevention, and provide nutrition education programming to support informed food and lifestyle choices by individuals, families, and communities. Research will address cross-cutting and emerging issues in animal and plant health and production, including studies on feeding source efficiency to improve animal productivity and gut health, and plant system sustainability.

Performance takes place in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. The award is assistance type Formula Grant.

Researchers and extension educators are also developing and disseminating knowledge and technology to improve landscaping and gardening. Research and extension programs in animal systems are focused on developing and disseminating knowledge and methods for animal breeding, reproduction, nutrition, genetics and genomics, physiology, environmental stress, product quality, and health and well-being. These integrated research and extension efforts also aim to tackle the critical issues impacting the quality of our soil, water and air by providing scientific solutions for animal waste management, wastewater treatment, nutrient management, septic systems, wetland management, soil properties, and fishery and pond management. NC state's research and extension efforts to enhance food safety, nutrition and health and to keep american's healthy and free from foodborne illness necessitate a focus on preventing food safety problems rather than taking a reactionary approach. NC state's integrated research and extension efforts focus on protecting the safety of foods along the entire supply chain, from production to consumption. To meet the growing need for healthy food, researchers are developing and producing new food products that promote health and prevent disease. At the same time, extension provides nutrition education programming to ensure that individuals, families, and communities have the knowledge they need to make informed choices about food and healthy lifestyles. Improving plant and animal agricultural systems: within this area, we will work to address cross-cutting and emerging issues of animal and plant health and production. In animal systems, researchers will study the efficiency of different feeding sources to improve animal productivity and GUT health. In plant systems, the focus will be in sustainable agriculture, alternative and high value crop production, season extension, environmental adaptation, value added agriculture, digital agriculture, soil health, pest control, and agro economics. Extension will continue to expand its work with livestock producers, placing special interest on compacted resources, small- scale minority farmers. The farm pavilion will focus on sustainable agriculture and local and community food systems, housing its applied research and demonstration programs' staff and providing space for meetings, forums and conferences